[Originating in the Committee on Government Organization;
reported February 20, 2008.]

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A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §7-18-15, relating to
limitations on expending hotel occupancy tax proceeds.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto one new section, designated §7-18-15, to read as
follows:ARTICLE 18. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
§7-18-15. Limitations on expending proceeds.
For the period of the first day of February, two thousand
eight, through the first day of July, two thousand nine, net
revenue receivable during the fiscal year by a county or a
municipality pursuant to this article shall be expended only on
those convention and visitor's bureaus, visitor's and convention
bureaus and regional travel councils that existed and were engaged in business in this state as of the first day of February, two
thousand eight.

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(NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the expenditure
of hotel occupancy proceeds during the period of February 1, 2008,
through July 1, 2009, to those convention and visitor's bureaus,
visitor's and convention bureaus and regional travel councils not
in existence and engaged in business in this state as of February
1, 2008.

§7-18-15 is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring
have been omitted.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.)